Ephesians 4:11-12 (ESV) “11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ”
Being effective in sharing Jesus with people comes from: 1. loving God with your everything 2. and loving people from the overflow of God’s love in your life.
Mark 12:30-31 (NLT) 30 “And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
To walk in what God has called you to, you need to know your Identity: You are sons and daughters who are fully loved by God (Eph. 5:1-2) You are the Light of the world (Matt. 5:14) You are the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21) You are Farmers who sow and reap (Mark 4:14 and Mark 4:29)
Planting Seeds: Introducing People to Jesus
Excuses Fear I am not bold enough I am not an extrovert I am not good with words I don’t know enough I am to busy I am not “called to that”
Success Defined: love and obedience
Right Motivation 1. Compassion Having a heart broken for the people around you, and knowing that you have the solution. 2. Eternity: does what you are living for right now affect eternity?
Mark 4:14-20 (NLT) 14 “The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. 15 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. 16 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 17 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. 18 The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, 19 but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. 20 And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
How to share and show the Gospel?
How you Live Can people tell that you are a Christian simply by looking at your life? You should stand out like a sore thumb.
What you Do Natural Supernatural
What you Speak Your Testimony (gospel written on our lives) The gospel. (The gospel is enough!) 1. You were created for a relationship with God. 2. Sin separated you from God. 3. Jesus is God’s solution to sin. 4. Do you want salvation through Jesus 5. The cost: your whole life. Repent and follow Jesus.
Reaping a Harvest
And hardworking farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor.
2 Timothy 2:6 (NLT) “And hardworking farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor.”
People will run to Jesus if we live a life positioned to harvest. The kingdom of God is on the offensive.
How to harvest You share the gospel/God shakes hearts People ask for Jesus. (Repent, get baptized, receive the Holy Spirit). Walk with them on their salvation journey (discipleship)
Pray for the sick
Mark 16:17-18 (NLT) 17 “These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe… 18 They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.”
Isaiah 53:5 (NIV) “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
